The Richmond County Savings Foundation’s Tuscan Garden
The Richmond County Savings Foundation is a philanthropic organization contributing to the welfare of the Staten Island community. The Richmond County Savings Foundation sought to increase the quality of life of those who live, work, or visit Staten Island by funding an enchanting Tuscan Garden. Modeled after the celebrated gardens at the historic Villa Gamberaia in Florence, the garden pays homage to the style of 17th century Tuscan landscape architects. Just as the Villa Gamberaia marries the traditional city pallozo with the bucolic nature of the Tuscan countryside, the Richmond County Savings Foundation’s Tuscan Garden and Building P create a similar effect.
In June of 2012, SHARP artist Gustavo Galvan used the Richmond County Saving’s Foundation’s Tuscan Garden as a runway to debut “Shopping Bag Intricacies.” The exquisite natural landscape of the garden was the perfect backdrop for a fashion show focused around the reuse and up-cycling of everyday materials. Models donned Galvan’s intricately hand-crafted designs and confidently walked through the garden to the resounding applause of onlookers.
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Music Hall
The Music Hall at Snug Harbor is the second oldest existing theater in New York City, second to Carnegie Hall only by a few months. Remaining true to the Greek Revival tradition, the Music Hall is marked by its mighty ionic columns and harmonious architectural elements.
The interior of the Music Hall, however, encourages a marriage between an ancient Roman architectural tradition, the proscenium arch, and the Greek myth of Orpheus. The proscenium arch has a dual nature, a nature that is both functional and decorative. Functionally, the arch restricts viewers from seeing behind the scenes. Decoratively, the arch tells the story of Orpheus, the mythological Greek poet, musician, or “father of songs.”
In May of 2012, the Music Hall hosted nine-time Grammy Award winner, Norah Jones. Her performance was not only a precursor to her North American tour for Little Broken Hearts, it was the perfect kick off of Snug Harbor’s year-long celebration of 120 years of the Music Hall.
Following the highly successfully, Norah Jones concert, the Music Hall hosted the British band, the xx, where visitors experienced innovative and pulsing sounds complimented by dazzling set designs. Their powerfully modern instrumentals were reflected on the exterior of the Music Hall through a light show.
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Cottage Row
The late 19th century map indicates which professional staff members lived in the cottages. The secretary, engineer, gardener, banker, and farmer lived in their own respective cottages. Remaining true to their original intention as living quarters, Snug Harbor has allowed the cottages to serve as a residency for emerging artists. Snug Harbor’s Artist in Residency Program was conceived in 1983 and fully instituted in 1988. The program attracted artists from Finland, France, Greece, Japan, the Czech Republic, Taiwan, and Tibet creating the perfect environment for establishing a cultural dialogue through art. Snug Harbor continued the dialogue with the community through programs, exhibitions, and events. Unfortunately, the program went dormant for a few years.
In 2012 the Snug Harbor Artist Residency Program was reinstated. Emerging artists are offered a supportive environment to explore their creative development for two months. At the end of their residency, artists are given the opportunity to exhibit their work in the Newhouse Gallery for Contemporary Art. New York State Residents under 30 with a BFA are eligible to apply. For more information, please see the Visual Arts Page.
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Neptune Fountain
The image above is a postcard depicting Snug Harbor’s Neptune Fountain in the foreground and the Music Hall and the destroyed Randall Memorial Church in the background. The white marble Randall Memorial Church was built by Robert W. Gibson. It was completed in 1893 and demolished in 1952. The church was often compared to St. Paul’s Cathedral in London because of dome and twin towers. The ornate and exquisite nature of the church marked the astonishing wealth of Snug Harbor at the end of the nineteenth century.
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Randall Statue
Sir Robert Richard Randall’s will named eight Trustees of the Sailors’ Snug Harbor in the City of New York, who ultimately served as the executors of his will. The eight included:
- Chancellor of the State of New York
- Mayor of the City of New York
- Recorder of the City
- President of the Chamber of Commerce
- President of the Marine Society
- Vice President of the Marine Society
- Senior Minister of the Episcopal Church
- Senior Minister of the Presbyterian Church
Sir Robert Richard Randall completely entrusted the development of Sailors’ Snug Harbor to the Trustees. The Trustees sought to provide the sailors with a place to live, food, medical services, religious services, clothing, entertainment, and even tobacco.
The Trustees were public administrators with strong religious values and business acumen. More notably they had a disdain for impoliteness and impropriety. Therefore, to diminish disorderly conduct amongst Snug Harbor residents, they tried to instill their own values in the sailors. The by-laws listed a number of regulations and restrictions including one that stated:
Members of the Institution are strictly forbidden to indulge in contentious, boisterous or disorderly conversation at the table and are solemnly enjoined to demean themselves in a decorous manner, becoming of aged and honest seamen.
The Trustees of the Sailors’ Snug Harbor in the City of New York still meet to this day; however, some of the aforementioned members have given up their seats to new members.
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Wetlands
An area that now teeming with plant and animal life, was once an area with man-made channels, tunnels, and a large power plant. From the early to mid 20th century, the wetland area was dominated by a large industrial power plant whose job was to generate electricity for the site. Already equipped with a hospital, morgue, and a farm, it was only natural for Snug Harbor to generate its own power. When Snug Harbor was an active residence for sailors, it was completely self-sufficient.
Now instead of being marked by a giant eyesore, visitors can feast their eyes on hundreds of species of birds. At sunset, the only place on Staten Island to view a Common Nighthawk is at Snug Harbor. Contrary to what its name suggests, the Common Nighthawk is not considered a hawk or a strictly nocturnal bird. Some may know it by its nickname, the “Bull-bat,” appropriately named for its bat-like flight.
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Carl Grillo Glass House
The foreground of this early twentieth-century photograph depicts Snug Harbor’s horticulture staff and the original Greenhouse before the Carl Grillo Glass House additions were made. If one examines the background closely, one is also able to see an outline of Snug Harbor’s hospital.
In March of 1982, the lawn of the Greenhouse, as well as other areas of the site, was excavated in tandem with the installment of new water mains. Archaeologist Jo Ann Cotz discovered pieces of flint on the front lawn of the Snug Harbor campus. Those small pieces of flint were most likely used as arrowheads for fishing by the Lenape Indians. Cotz explained to the Staten Island Advance that “It makes perfect sense to find this sort of thing at the Harbor” because its proximity to the water. The Lenape Indians most likely fished right offshore.
On December 3, 1999, New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani dedicated the Glass House to the memory of Carl Grillo, one of his dear friends. This addition extended the already existing Greenhouse by 2,800 square feet, almost tripling the size of exhibition and propagation space. The renovation placed a three zone heating system in the Greenhouse to create arid conditions for the tropical plant displays. 
Serving as the heart of Harbor in Bloom every year, the Carl Grillo Glass House greets visitors, gardeners, and horticulture enthusiasts alike every spring. In May of 2012, Harbor In Bloom brought the entire campus together for an exciting spring event full of music, blooming flowers, crafts, and educational activities. Hundreds of plants were placed on the lawn of the Glass House for visitors to purchase for their own gardens.
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Connie Gretz Secret Garden
The book The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson contains elements of magic, where the garden itself is directly related to the health and wellbeing of the protagonists. The garden changes the lives of a young girl and boy, symbolizing rejuvenation, happiness, and the importance of positive thinking. The book served as a source of inspiration for the Connie Gretz Secret Graden.
The Secret Garden was dedicated to the memory of Connie Vigneri Gretz (March 14, 1950- October 25, 1996). The Garden was built by her family, friends, and with the help of Merrill Lynch. The maze conceals the secret garden, providing children with an exciting yet challenging adventure. The Gretz family wanted to teach children (and remind adults) that “although life’s path is never straight, we should look for the magic and joy in each step of the journey. For it is only through life’s journey that we each find the peace and beauty of our own secret garden.”
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New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden
The New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden was first conceived in 1984. After years of careful study, deliberation, and relationship cultivation, the NYCSG construction began in April of 1997. The Staten Island Botanical Garden collaborated with many partners; including, the National Endowment for the Arts, local foundations, the State and City of New York, individual and corporate donors, and the Chinese community to turn this idea into a reality.
Since the garden was to be modeled after a Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) scholar’s garden in Suzhou, it was only appropriate that The Staten Island Botanical Garden worked with the Suzhou branch of the Landscape Architecture Company of China. The Chief Project Designer was Mr. Zou Gongwu, who has been acknowledged as a leading scholar in classic garden design.
The designs, architectural details, and landscape choices of Mr. Zou Gongwu are reminiscent of the Lingering Garden (Liu Yuan) located in Suzhou. However, the NYCSG also contains elements seen in most Chinese Scholar’s Gardens.
The classical Chinese Scholar’s Garden reflects the harmony and balance of the yin and yang through the use of four elements: rocks, water, plantings, and architecture.
Rocks are often referred to as the “bones of the earth” in Chinese literature and poetry. The rocks placed in the NYCSG may represent a mountain, potentially a sacred mountain.
Reminiscent of human arteries, water flows throughout the Chinese Scholar’s Garden constantly reviving and rejuvenating the garden.
All of the plants, trees, shrubs, and flowers were carefully selected either because of their color, shape, or seasonal attributes. All year round, there are plants blooming in the NYCSG, allowing the garden to maintain its relevance season to season.
The New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden was built using traditional Chinese construction techniques. In addition, all of the architectural elements reflect the classical Ming period in Chinese architecture.
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